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State House, Nairobi
State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito has revealed that a significant portion of land belonging to State House and State lodges across the country has been grabbed, prompting MPs to demand swift repossession measures to safeguard the national assets.
Mr Ole Metito disclosed this while appearing before the National Assembly’s Administration and Internal Security Committee during hearings on the 2026 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).
He also noted that the government plans to spend Sh1.03 billion on renovating State Houses and State lodges in the next financial year.
State House provides strategic support to the President in executing constitutional functions and advancing the government’s transformation agenda.
State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito.
Committee chairperson Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West) warned that urgent action is needed to reclaim and secure the grabbed land.
“The faster the land is repossessed and protected, the better, because Kenyans’ appetite for land is on another level,” said Mr Tongoyo.
Mr Ole Metito revealed that 100 acres of land belonging to the Kakamega State Lodge that had been grabbed have since been reclaimed. However, he noted that facilities in Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret are among the most affected by land grabbing.
“The State House land in Kisumu has a residential house built on it belonging to a nominated MCA,” he told the committee.
State House, Nairobi
The Comptroller did not disclose the identities of those occupying the grabbed land or the exact acreage under illegal possession but promised to provide Parliament with a comprehensive report on the status of State House and State lodge properties nationwide.
While supporting the renovation programme, Mr Tongoyo stressed that ownership disputes must be resolved.
“Renovations of State Houses and lodges across the country are welcome, but the issue of disputed ownership must be addressed,” he said.
He further raised security concerns over a county government-owned high-rise building adjacent to Nakuru State House.
“The security experts have advised that the Nakuru building next to State House may not be suitable to remain there,” he said.
In response, Mr Ole Metito said officials are verifying land boundaries.
The ongoing renovations at State House, Nairobi in this picture taken on May 3, 2024.
“We are trying to confirm where the beacons are,” he said.
The Comptroller told MPs that State House intends to implement 13 ongoing projects across various State Houses and lodges to “improve, restore and maintain physical infrastructure.”
Renovation allocations
Under the proposed allocations, Nairobi State House has the largest share. The facility, whose cumulative expenditure stood at Sh1.13 billion as of December 31, 2025, has Sh452.5 million proposed for the 2026/27 financial year.
In the current 2025/26 financial year, Sh449.7 million has been allocated out of a total renovation budget of Sh2.5 billion.
Mombasa State House, with an estimated project cost of Sh1.22 billion, previously experienced challenges, including water disconnection.
Renovations budgeted at Sh201.1 million for 2026/27, up from Sh42.5 million in the current year, will include water reconnection and refurbishment of the perimeter fence and main house.
Journalists during a past function at State Lodge Eldoret.
Nakuru State House has an estimated project cost of Sh875 million, with Sh424.44 million already spent as of December 31, 2025. A further Sh98.7 million is proposed for 2026/27.
Eldoret State Lodge renovations in 2026/27 are projected to cost Sh88.5 million, forming part of an overall Sh842 million budget, with Sh47.1 million already spent as of December 2025.
Kisumu State House refurbishment is projected at Sh30.1 million in 2026/27. The facility has a total budget of Sh333.3 million, with Sh35.31 million spent as of December 2025.
Kisii State Lodge, with a total budget of Sh195.75 million, has Sh15.4 million proposed for allocation in the next financial year.
Kakamega State Lodge, with a total budget of Sh265.3 million, has Sh28.6 million earmarked for 2026/27.
The revelations come amid growing scrutiny over public land management and security around key national installations, as MPs press for accountability and faster recovery of encroached properties.
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